A man is suing owners of the now-defunct Juanita's Cantina restaurant and a rapper after the singer accidentally fell onto him during a concert.
Kenneth Elsleger Jr. filed the suit Wednesday in Pulaski County Circuit Court against rapper Machine Gun Kelly, Little Rock Restaurant Properties LLC -- which did business as Juanita's -- and the restaurant's owners, Joe Cates, Jean Ann Cates and James O'Brien. Elsleger is seeking a jury trial, along with damages for medical bills.
On March 31, 2013, Elsleger, who uses a wheelchair, went to a Machine Gun Kelly concert at the restaurant and music venue, where employees placed the White County man near a pole close to the stage, according to the lawsuit. At one point during the concert, the Cleveland rapper tried to jump onto the pole, but missed and fell onto Elsleger instead, the suit states.
Elsleger was hurt, but the suit did not list the extent of those injuries.
The lawsuit said the restaurant and its owners were negligent in placing Elsleger "in a location of potential (and actual danger)," rather than in an area away from the stage, the rapper and the crowd. He also alleged that Machine Gun Kelly -- also known as Richard Colson Baker -- should have known that jumping onto the pole could hurt concertgoers.
Elsleger's attorney could not be reached for comment.
Juanita's closed in December after operating for nearly 30 years. The restaurant and music venue first opened in 1986 on South Main Street but moved in 2010 to the River Market District location at 614 President Clinton Ave.
Court filings did not list attorneys for the restaurant, its owners or the rapper.
Metro on 03/17/2016